During a press conference to promote Saturday’s opening races in the challenger finals, the elephant in the room was Oracle’s admitted violations of racing rules.

The defender could face sanctions by an international jury before sailing in the America’s Cup finals Sept. 7-21.

Asked during the press conference if he thought the defenders were “cheaters,’’ Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena said, “Yes. It was disrespectful for our sport and disrespectful for all of us, all the competitors.’’

Sirena said Oracle’s admitted violations of the rules would make the Italians even more motivated if they advance to race against Oracle. First, they must get past heavily favored Emirates Team USA in the challenger finals.

After the press conference, Sirena was asked again if Oracle cheated in placing illegal weights on its three boats in the America’s Cup World Series. “For sure,” he said. “If you’re not cheating, you’re not going to do that. I would never do that.’’

Two days earlier Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the illegal weights constituted clear-cut cheating and that Oracle’s management had to know about it in advance.

“You can’t actually get to any other point than the fact they were cheating,’’ Dalton said in an interview.

An international jury is investigating the matter and could sanction Oracle before the America’s Cup finals begin. It has already interviewed dozens of Oracle employees, according to a source close to the situation. After the interviews are done, the five-member jury will hold a hearing.

The jury operates independently of the Cup. If a team is found to have committed “gross misconduct’’ according to the Cup protocol, the jury could fine Oracle or award races in the Cup finals to its opponent. The jury could even disqualify Oracle from the competition.

According to the rules of yacht racing, the jury also could censure, fine or disqualify individuals.

Additional penalties against the team or individuals could be levied by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and US Sailing, the sport’s national governing body.

The jury is chaired by David Tillett of Australia and also includes Graham McKenzie of New Zealand, Bryan Willis of England, John Doerr of Great Britain and Josje Hofland of the Netherlands.

Although Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa have blasted Oracle publicly, the fourth team in the regatta has remained silent. CEO Paul Cayard declined comment on Oracle’s violations Thursday.